The Confederation of African Football (CAF) referees committee has announced that South African referee Tom Abongile will officiate Morocco's opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Gabon. This match is part of the Group B encounters and will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. local time.
Morocco begins its campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Atlas Lions will look to start their qualifying campaign with a positive result on home soil against a Gabon side featuring several experienced players. Morocco's national team will aim to secure an early advantage in the qualifying campaign.
Abongile has previously officiated matches in African competitions under CAF, representing South Africa. His appointment places him in charge of one of Morocco's first steps toward securing qualification for the continental tournament. Morocco will enter the qualifiers after reaching the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
The national team will now turn its attention to the 2027 edition and aim to build on their recent successes. Friday's fixture in Rabat will mark the beginning of Morocco's road toward the next Africa Cup of Nations. The team will look to make a strong impression in front of their home fans.
The appointment of Abongile as the referee for this match has been confirmed by the CAF referees committee. The match against Gabon is expected to be a challenging encounter for Morocco. The team will need to be at their best to secure a positive result.
Morocco World News reported that Abongile's appointment was announced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. This match is a crucial part of Morocco's qualifying campaign, and the team will look to make a strong start. The Atlas Lions have a strong squad and will look to use this match as a springboard for success in the qualifiers.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be an important milestone for Moroccan football. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. With Abongile as the referee, the match against Gabon is expected to be a closely contested encounter.
Key points
- Tom Abongile, a South African referee, has been appointed to officiate Morocco's opening match in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Gabon.
- The match will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat and is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. local time.
- Morocco will enter the qualifiers after reaching the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
